In some rural areas of Rajasthan, the crop damage is reportedly up to 50 per cent.
Unseasonal rain and hailstorms in Rajasthan have devastated most of the standing crops, costing many farmers their only source of livelihood for the season.
According to the initial government reports, 26 of the 33 districts in the state have been badly affected. In 3102 villages, which constitute for almost 30 per cent of the rural area in Rajasthan, the crop damage has been more than 50 per cent.
70-year-old Harbaksh Chaudhary, a local farmer who hailed the January downpour in the rain-scarce state is now devastated after the recent rains have left him with no buyers for his ripened wheat crop.
"This grain is no good now. The moisture has soaked the ripened stalk and if I go to sell it in the food grain market there will be no takers," he said, adding that the crop can now only be used as animal fodder.
The farmer of the neighboring field, Munni Devi, has a similar story. Her freshly cut stacks of mustard, ready for the market have been soaked by the rain and will have to be thrown away.
"All our hard work washed away. All the money we have invested we will not be able to recover now," she said, appealing to the government for compensation.
Across Rajasthan, the recent rains have wreaked havoc on standing crop, especially wheat and mustard.
The state government has sought a report from all collectors by March 20.
Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has also announced additional relief for farmers. A cash compensation of Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 3 lakh has been announced for loss of human life; for livestock, Rs 1650 for small animals like sheep and goat and 16,400 for animals like cows, buffalos and camels.
The compensation for crop damage, the chief minister said, would be given based on the survey reports due this month, adding that collectors have been allocated compensation from the revolving funds for relief work.